Rail-cloth protector for billiard-tables.



F: F. SCHERZINGER.

RAIL CLOTH PROTECTOR FOR BILLIARD TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, m4.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

qzz si FRANK F. SCHERZINGER,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-CLOTH PROTECTOR FOR BILLIARD-TABLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed November 9, 1914. Serial No. 871,061.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK F. SCHER- ZINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Cloth Protectors for Billiard-Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a protector for the edge of the cushions from the tools or implements used in cleaning or sweeping the tables.

It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a table with my device attached, a portion of table cushion broken away to disclose one of the sweeping holes. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form. Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 3 of a further modification.

The invention is intended for use when cleaning by brushing or sweeping a table. Be it understood that all tables have at the corner or corners a dust chute or hole underneath the cushions formed by cutting away a small portion of the slab, which chute communicates with the surface of the slab of the table and the floor. It is to one of these corner chutes that the usual attendant or porter directs the sweepings, and it is found that the portion of the cushion or cushions adjacent to the chute suffers more wear in proportion to the'rest of the length of the rail. A further advantage in taking protective measure to prevent the cloth from being unevenly worn as at and near the corners, due to brushing, without my protector is that it has been found by scientific experiments that a billiard ball caromed from a worn out portion of a cushion will not respond with the proper accuracy.

In the drawings, is shown a table 1 of familiar form having a slab 2 surrounded and surmounted by cushions 3. A sweeping hole is shown at 4. It will be noticed that each cushion 3 is formed with a sharp projecting edge at 3. It is this part of the cushion and its covering that I aim to protect. I provide a plate 10 of angular form having the two portions 10 and 10 at right angles to each other, adapted to overlay the cushions at their juncture and slightly overhang the edge, and may be bent over at 11 forming the flange or hook 12. To secure the part 10 in place for use, it is desired to provide an easily and quickly operable device such as a spring clamp or the like; for this purpose there is hinged at 10 a staple shaped hinge member 1a intruding its ends in the hollow cylindrical parts 15 whose ends 15 are flattened and secured to a plate 16; the edge of the plate 16 is bent at 16 and is adapted in size and form to engage the edge of the rail 3 at 3 and to be securely and removably held in place by springs 20 whose opposite ends are secured to the parts 1% and 15. The contact or under side of the member 16 may be lined with some soft nonabrading material, such as felt or leather, at 16 In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a modified form wherein the device is intended to be permanently secured to the table rail at 30 by any suitable means, as for instance, by a flexible member 31 which is attached to the part 15*. The part 14* is connected to 15 through the spring 20" and rigidly to the part 10. When the protector is not in use it is adapted to hang flat against the side of the table under the overhanging edge 3", as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6, and will not interfere with the use of the table for which it is intended.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a form of simpler construction, eliminating the clamping device shown in Figs. 2 and 4:. In this form the part 10 is intended to overlay and slightly protrude its edge 40 beyond the sharp edge 3 of the cushion, and to correctly position it so, there is provided the hooks or guides 41 which engage the part 3 the device being easily manipulated by the attendant or porter who may hold it, applied with one hand while using a broom with the other.

I claim- 1. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate adapted to protrude beyond the edge of the cushion to be protected, having a flange adapted to engage the edge of such cushion.

2. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate of angular form having a flange on one edge thereof adapted to engage the edge of the cushion to be protected.

3. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate adapted to overlay and protrude beyond the cushion to be protected, and means for securing said plate in position.

4:. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate of angular form adapted to overlay and protrude beyond the cushion to be protected, and means for securing said plate in position.

5. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate adapted to overlay the cushion to be protected, having a flange engaging the edge thereof, a spring clamp adapted to hold said flange in engagement with said cushion.

6. In a rail cloth protector, comprising a plate adapted to overlay the cushion to be protected, having a flange to engage the edge thereof, a clamp adapted to hold said flange in engagement With said cushion, the clamp having a spring or flexible element therein adapted to secure said plate in position.

7. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate havinga flange adapted to engage the edge of the cushion to be protected, having a flexibly disengageable clamp, said clamp having a flanged plate adapted to engage the edge of the cushion opposite to the edge to be protected.

8. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate adapted to protrude beyond the edge of the cushion to be protected, and means for insuring and maintaining such relation.

9. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a plate adapted to protrude beyond the edge of the cushion to beprotected, having means to gage such protrusion.

10. In a rail-cloth protector, comprising a flanged plate adapted to engage the edge of the cushion to be protected, a flanged plate 40 adapted to engage the opposite side thereof, and a spring or flexible connection between the said plates adapted to secure them in position in the manner and for the purpose set forth and described. 3115 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago Ills, this 5 dayof November, I914.

FRANK F. SC'HERZINGER. Witnesses: 1

M. E. FLYNN, OLIVER L. PLUMTREE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Batents,

Washington, D. C. 

